Glossary
amorphous silicon (aSi): A very thin layer of silicon that is deposited on a substrate (glass, metal or plastic) in a manner to create a PV module. This is one of the technologies used in making thin-filmed PV modules.
BTUs: British thermal units.
conversion efficiency: The efficiency at which a specific technology converts the energy from a power source into usable energy. For a PV cell, conversion efficiency is the percentage of power converted from absorbed light to electrical energy when the PV cell is connected to an electrical circuit. For a PV module, conversion efficiency is the percentage of power converted from absorbed light to electrical energy over the full area of the PV module.
crystalline silicon PV modules: PV modules that are powered by mono-crystalline or multi-crystalline silicon PV cells.
Day4 Electrode: a proprietary method of contacting and interconnecting solar cells that eliminates the decades-old solder-ribbon bonding method on the front of the module. The patented electrode technology produces PV panels of high power density, increased lifetime and uncompromised aesthetic appearance.
DC electricity (direct current electricity): The type of electrical current that is typically produced from batteries and PV modules.
Energy Information Administration (EIA): A statistical agency of the US Department of Energy, which provides policy-independent data, forecasts, and analyses to promote sound policy making, efficient markets, and public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.
feed-in tariffs: A government legislated program whereby a government sets prices that regulated utilities are required to pay for renewable electricity generated by the end-users and are fed into the grid. The prices are set above market rates and may be differentiated based on the system size or application.
fossil fuel: Fuels derived from hydrocarbons including oil, coal or natural gas, and result in CO2 emissions and other pollutants when burnt.
grid: A network of electric power lines and connections.
grid-connected: Term used to refer to a PV system or other generator that is connected to the utility grid and allows electricity to be fed into the electrical network and transmitted to consumers.
IEC 61215 International Standard: The International Standard for crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules. This International Standard lays down IEC requirements for the design qualification and type approval of terrestrial photovoltaic modules suitable for long-term operation in general open air climates, The object of this test sequence is to determine the electrical and thermal characteristics of the module and to show, as far as is possible within reasonable constraints of cost and time, that the module is capable of withstanding prolonged exposure in climates described in the scope. The actual lifetime expectancy of modules so qualified will depend on their design, their environment and the conditions under which they are operated.
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): The International Electrotechnical Commission is a not-for-profit, non-governmental international standards organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.
kilowatt (kW): Each kilowatt equals 1,000 watts of power.
kilowatt hour (kWh): A kilowatt hour is the unit of energy where 1,000 watts of power is used over a one hour period.
megawatt (MW): A MW equals 1,000,000 watts of power.
monocrystalline: a crystalline solid in which the crystal lattice of the entire sample is continuous and unbroken to the edges of the sample, with no grain boundaries.
multicrystalline (also known as polycrystalline): solids that are composed of many crystallites of varying size and orientation. The variation in direction can be random (called random texture) or directed, possibly due to growth and processing conditions.
net metering programs: A government legislated program which enables end-users to sell excess PV-generated electricity to their local utility in exchange for a credit against their utility bills.
on-grid applications: PV applications that are connected to and feed electricity generated into the electricity transmission grid.
photovoltaic (PV): A device that converts sunlight directly into DC electricity, typically using semi-conductor materials such as silicon.
PV cell: The semi-conductor device in a PV module that generates electricity when exposed to sunlight.
PV module: The complete, environmentally-protected assembly of interconnected PV cells packaged to protect the PV cells from natural elements.
PV system: A package of one or more PV modules that are mounted and electrically interconnected, with system components such as batteries and power electronics to produce and reserve electricity.
PV system integrator: A company that constructs a PV system on behalf of a PV system operator.
PV system operator: A company that operates a PV system, such as a power utility or independent power producer.
renewable energy: Energy that utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides, biofuel, biomass and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished.
renewable portfolio standards: A government legislated program whereby a government requires regulated utilities to supply a portion of their total electricity that is derived from renewable sources, and in some cases, a portion of the renewable energy quota must be from PV electricity.
silicon wafer: A thin, circular slice of single-crystal semiconductor material used in manufacturing of semiconductor devices, such as integrated circuits and PV cells.
solar energy: The energy output from the sun that the earth receives.
soldering: The process in which two metals are joined together by means of a third metal or alloy having a relatively low melting point.
thin-film PV module: Thin photovoltaic modules that are made of PV cells that use several layers of aSi, CdTe or CIGS on a substrate such as glass.
TÜV Rheinland Group (TÜV): The TÜV Rheinland Group, a product safety and quality assurance testing firm that provides comprehensive testing and certification services for North America, Europe and Asia. It provides services to help manufacturers meet safety and quality standards.
Underwriters Laboratories (UL): A provider of product safety and certification testing services. Products that pass stringent tests become registered with the company and can bear the UL mark.
UL 1703: The Standard for Safety for Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels set by UL. The construction of a product, the safety performance materials and the manufacturing process are all assessed in determining the compliance of a PV module or panel to the requirements of UL 1703.
watt (W): The scientific unit of electric power. A typical light bulb is rated 40, 60 or 100 watts, meaning that it consumes that amount of power when illuminated.
Wp: Watt peak, or the output of a PV module as measured under an industry standardized light test.
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QUICK CONTACTS HEAD OFFICE CUSTOMER SERVICE SALES HUMAN RESOURCES INVESTORS MEDIA NEWS RELEASES August 10, 2010Day4 Energy Reports Second-Quarter 2010 Results 
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